Week 5, Thing 12

I definitely see how some of the previously created search rolls can be very useful. I used the Public Domain e-Books search roll to find the full text of some traditional fairy tales. I was able to find some great pictures using the Free Photos search roll. 

I sometimes look online to get lesson plan ideas. I created a Lesson Plan search roll using the sites that I have had the most success with. I placed the search box in the upper right hand corner of this blog. Also, just for fun, I also created a search roll focused on recipes. 

Week 5, Thing 11

I really like Pandora, the winner in the music category. This site works like a radio. Users type in the name of a song or an artist that they like, and Pandora will continuously play music that is similar in style. Users can program any number of different stations, each playing a different type of music. As songs play, they can be rated with a thumbs up or a thumbs down. Pandora will use this information to try to zero in on the exact style of music that the user enjoys.

This is a great way to listen to music when at the computer. With a subscription fee, there are some added benefits, like no advertisements and the ability to listen to stations through your cell phone (AT&T or Spring). A few downfalls--stations cannot be streamed through iPods or other mp3 players. Also, you cannot listen to a specific song on-demand. BUT, considering that it is FREE, this is completely understandable. One great thing is that Pandora compensates artists and songwriters whenever their music is played. 

Week 5, Thing 10

I had so much fun using Image Chef! I found it to be very user-friendly and can see how it could be used to promote reading! Here are a few images that I created:

Week 4, Things 8 & 9

I decided to go with Google Reader for this because I had already set up an account as part of a recent in-service day. I like how this allows me to go to one page, rather than five or ten, for the latest news on all topics that are of interest to me. This is a huge time saver.

At this point, I don't see using this tool with my elementary students. I do think it is a good tool to share with colleagues. It is a great way to stay current both professionally and on topics of personal interest. For example, I can find reviews of new children's books and strategies for using iPods in the classroom as well as tips for marathon training and the latest sports scores.

I did experiment with the different ways of finding RSS feeds. Although I found some interesting content using Topix and Syndic8, my preference is to search using Google Reader. I found that the results were most relevant to my interests and appreciated that the process was seamless. I was unable to link to Feedster and found, through googling it, that this site is no longer available.